How Do You Pronounce Complex Mathematical Expressions in English?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to pronounce complex mathematical expressions in English. Participants seek guidance on the correct verbalization of various mathematical notations, including powers, absolute values, integrals, derivatives, and fractions.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) requests help with pronouncing specific mathematical expressions, providing examples such as "a squared" and "a plus b."
  • One participant suggests several pronunciations, including "a to the (power of) n" for an, and "integral from a to b of f of x dx" for ∫abf(x)dx.
  • Another participant interprets the expression |r1-r2| as "modulus of r one minus r two," suggesting a vector interpretation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally provide individual suggestions for pronunciation, but there is no consensus on a single correct way to pronounce each expression, indicating multiple viewpoints on the matter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying interpretations of mathematical expressions, and some suggestions may depend on context or specific mathematical conventions.

SalomeH
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I apologise for choosing not so related topic, but I could'n find better one. I will have to read some math expressions in English for audience and I'm not sure how to say it. And when I ask English teacher, they don't know what it means in the first place and can't give me any advise either. Could you please help me?

Example: a2 = a squared
a×b = a cross b
a+b = a plus b etc.

These I don't know for sure how to say:
an
|r1-r2|
∫abf(x)dx
d2y/dx2 (second derivative?)
∂y/∂x
a/b
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
1. a to the (power of) n OR a to the nth
2. Absolute value of the difference of r one and r two
3. Integral from a to b of f of x dx
4. Second derivative of y with respect to x
5. Partial derivative of y with respect to x
6. a over b
 
Thank you very much!
 
Millennial said:
2. Absolute value of the difference of r one and r two

Looks like the OP intended vectors here, so I would say "modulus of r one minus r two".
 

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